This is part 3 of “Preachers of the Past,” a series where we discuss four distinct preachers from the past, ranging from 347 A.D. to 1945. We’ve included detailed preaching points for study and discussion towards the bottom of this post. Some background on Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) Phillips Brooks was an American Episcopal minister, and…
Learning to Preach from Martin Luther (Preachers of the Past, pt. 2)
Grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone, Christ alone, this was Luther’s soteriological sermon to the world.
Learning to Preach from John Chrysostom (Preachers of the Past, pt. 1)
This is part 1 of “Preachers of the Past,” a series where we discuss four distinct preachers from the past, ranging from 347 A.D. to 1945. We’ve included detailed preaching points for study and discussion towards the bottom of this post. Some Background on John Chrysostom (A.D. 347–407) John was born in Antioch to a…
Why and How to Preach about St. Patrick this St. Patrick’s Day
The pub nearest me has festooned itself with green, orange, and white bunting. My doctor’s waiting room is plastered with cardboard shamrocks that say LUCKY. McDonald’s has brought back (for a limited time) its Shamrock Shake. Yes, my friends, it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, and since this year [2024] that falls on a Sunday, we…
The Power of Low-Tech Sermon Visuals: Here’s How to Use Them Effectively
In preaching, don’t underestimate the impact of a humble object lesson or lowly flip-chart.
3 Questions to Ask When Preaching from Pop Culture: Avoid My Mistakes
Pop culture is the known world for most people today. By definition, it is the “popular” and dominant culture, heavily influenced by mass media, in America and in much of the world. At Christianity Today, I worked with a colleague who was extremely bright and working on her doctorate in English. One time, she and…
The Power of the Sermon Checklist: Why You Need One, and How to Make Your Own
In his best-selling book The Checklist Manifesto, surgeon Atul Gawande makes the compelling case that the best way to ensure quality is something simple, old-fashioned, and overlooked: the checklist. In fact, he argues, we need the checklist more than ever, because today, information is so abundant and complex, it overwhelms our ability to process. To ensure…
Four Creative Constraints of the Preaching Life
This post originally appeared at LeaderWorks on January 23, 2018. Preaching may be more than art, but it is certainly not less. It is a craft and a skill. An individual may have certain gifts given by God, but those gifts are diminished if not stewarded by effort and practice. Excellence deceives us. When we…
Learning from Giants: 3 Authentic Ways to Learn from Gifted Preachers
This seems like a safe support group, so I’ll just say it: “My name is Kevin, and sometimes I have preacher envy.” When I hear great preaching, part of me appreciates the clarity and beauty of the Gospel; another part of me thinks, “I wish I could preach like that.” I remember listening to lectures…
Funny You Said That: Stewardship and Humor (Giving, Part 3)
From LeaderWorks: helping leaders do their work. Normally, you wouldn’t find a blog post on humor mentioned in a series on Stewardship, Giving, and Generosity. The topic of stewardship and giving is not an easy one to speak about. It makes some people feel very uncomfortable. Both speaker and listener share long moments of angst when…
